Former Ukip leader denied Tory party membership despite Rishi Sunak’s ‘broad church’ claims
The Conservative Party rejected Henry Bolton's membership
PA
A former Ukip leader has been denied membership of the Conservative party, GB News can reveal, raising questions over Rishi Sunak's claims that his party is a "broad church" and would accept Nigel Farage as a member.
Henry Bolton succeeded Farage as leader of the UK Independence Party when he quit after winning millions of votes at the 2015 general election. Bolton then led Ukip for six months between September 2017 and February 2018.
Bolton recently tried to join the Tories in Kent where he lives, but had his application rejected by the local party. He then was accepted as a Tory member in a neighbouring constituency.
However Conservative Central Office then stepped in and overruled the local party, denying Bolton membership of the party.
A senior official told Bolton in an email sent in late November the decision had been a "political" one taken by the chairman of the Conservative party Richard Holden.
In the email seen by GB News, the party official said: "Thank you for your recent application to join the Conservative Party. Despite the email below from the chairman of [redacted] Conservatives, I regret to inform you that your membership rejection has been upheld by CCHQ - this is a political decision by the Party chairman's office in accordance with the terms and conditions stated on the join website."
Bolton told GB News that it showed the claim by Sunak that he party is a “broad church” was “for the birds”.
He said: "This tells me that, whatever Rishi Sunak says, the idea that, as presently led and constituted, the Conservative Party is a broad church is for the birds. If I’m not a conservative, I don’t know who is!
Henry Bolton was told the decision came from CCHQ
The former Ukip leader was told the decision was 'political'
"In rejecting my membership, CCHQ is rejecting the politics and priorities of those who would otherwise vote for them.
"Furthermore, my intention was to assist the only party able to prevent or mitigate a socialist government, in part by employing my experience in border and migration management to address what the Prime Minister is clearly unable to do - stop the small boats and runaway immigration. CCHQ seems not to attach as much value to these things as most of us would expect.
"I shall continue to pursue the interests, confidence, optimism, prosperity and security of the United Kingdom and its people from outside the Conservative Party."
A Conservative party source confirmed that Bolton's membership application had been turned down. A source said that high profile defectors were “usually more trouble than they're worth”.
In October, Sunak told GB News the Tory Party is a "broad church", adding that he "welcomes lots of people who want to subscribe to our ideals" when asked by GB News if Farage could join.
He said: "I welcome lots of people who want to subscribe to our ideals, to our values," adding "Look the thing I care about is delivering for the country and the more people as we've seen at this conference - we've had record attendance I think at this conference.
"Lots of energy, lots of engagement. People are responding to what we are doing. We're making the right long term decisions for the country." Sunak repeated his assertion that the party is a “broad church” when asked if Farage would be welcome on a trip to the Cop 28 summit in Dubai last month.